Ball-holding device



Jan, 31, 1957 R. M. HAMILTON, JR., ETAL BALL-HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 1'7, 1964 INVENTOR$ AOy M HAMM 70 United States PatentN 3,301,556 BALL-HOLDING DEVICE Roy M. Hamilton, Jr., 4541 Hazeltine Ave., Apt. 1, Sherman Oaks, Calif. 91403, and Ed E. Galberth, 9232 Cedros, Van Nuys, Calif. 91402 Filed `Iuly 17, 1964, Ser. No. 383,457 12 Claims. (Cl. 273,-26)

This invention relates to a device for holding a ball, particularly/a baseball, in position to beH swung :at for practicing batting and, therefore, improving proficiency of a batter. v v

An object of the invention is to provide a device that may be used in a 4limited area, as in a backyard.

lAnother object of the invention is to provide `a balllholding device that includes adjustability for rightand left-hand batters, and for location of the ball being .swung at, :as desi-red, to enable sharpening of bat-swinging techniques with respect to the disposition of the ball in relation to home plate. Thus, the batter may practice swings for striking a ball, whether at rest or moving in a swinging path, at a designated position over the plate, i.e., Wide, close, high or low. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a ballvholding device that releasably holds the ballwhich, when stt-ruck, remains tethered so that recovery is greatly facilitated.

AThis invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a work-ing position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The above objects are realized in an ove-rha-n-ging cranelike structure provided with means to hold a tethered ball in position to bestruck by a bat, the structure being adjustable as to height and front-to-back arrangement, as well as adjustable to bring the ball at a desired elevation above home plate and over the middle and lateral parts of home plate.

The invention also comprises novel details of constructio-n and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description and which is based on the accompanying drawing.' However, said drawing merely shows, and the following description lmerely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in .the several views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball-holding device according to the present invention. v

FIG. 2 is an enlarged and broken vertical sectional view of the support portion of the device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevationalview of the ballsuspending portion of the device.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an .adjusting feature provided in the overhanging crane portion'ofthe device.

FIG. l shows a home plate 5 and the markings 6 usually provided to circumscribe the bat-ters boxes for rightand left-hand batters.

The present device is shown in operative relation to said home plate and batters'boxes and comprises, generally, a standard 7 that is adapted to be staked into the ground rearward of and in a direct line from the middle of home plate, an overhanging arm 8 extending from t-he upper end of the standard and preferably directed at an upward angle from the horizontal so as to be aligned with and above home plate, a cross-bar 9 at the end of said arm 8, and means 10 on the bar 9 to releasably engage an intermediate portion of a length of cord 11 on one 3,391,556 YPatented Jan. 3l, 1967 ice . end'ofjwhichis secured a ball 12 to be swung at and struckbythe bat ofa batsman positioned in one of the batterfsboxes, the opposite end of said cord being connected to'l a'stake 1-3 that is adapted to be embedded in theground at ap'oint forward of home plate.*A bat rack 14,:may be-providedion the rearward side of the standa-rd7,fand aTbat-holding recess 15 may be provided in the ground-as a convenient place for the batter to leave the batl so he may retrieve a struck `ball for replacement in position to be again-struck.

The above generally described means providesfor holding .a ball at restso practicemay be had fo-rhitting it while at selected4 positions relative to home1 plate, as well as'fwhen supportinga ballr while it swings along various pathsofmovement relative -to-home plate in simulation -of curveball pitches. A struck ball will, by its momentum,`causethe cord l11 to become detached from the means 10, said cord stretching out to full length from its coiled portion at 16 and, when fully stretched out from stake 13,'not only lar'restingvthe flight of thevball, but

serving to retractit by elastic reaction on the cord ina tube 20 to have a tirrn yet removable position in said tube.

A still smaller rectangular-sectioned tube 23 is telescopically, engaged in the post 22, the same being vertically adjustable by means of a lock plate 24 that slidingly fits between two sides of the tubes 22 and 23, and

is provided with stop lugs 25 that are adapted to come to rest 4upon the upper edge of post tube 22 and with a rearwardly directed finger 26 that, according to which of a series of holes 27 in tube 23 said iinger is engaged with, determines the height adjustment of1 the latter The finger 26 is first enl' tube. Adjustment `is simple. tered into the selected hole 27. Then with the plate held against the tube 23, the latter is allowed to drop into the post tube 22 until the lugs 25 encounter the top of t-he latter tube.

The overhanging arm 8 comprises an integral extension 28 of the tube 23, the same as above indicated` and as best shown in FIG. 4, being preferably directed at a slight upward angle from the horizontal although the same may be at right a-ngles to the standard. An upward angle of about 8, or one `approximating it will provide for a desired release engagement of the cord 11 by the means 10 and obviate dislodgement of the cord by wind` action. Said arm is extensible. To this end a slide tube `29 is telescopically engaged in the outer end `of extension 28 and may be slidably adjusted so that the cross-bar 9, at

the end of said tube 29 and the means 10 thereon hold the cord 11 so that the ball is in desired forward-rear-4 ward relation to home plate. A block 30 secured in the end of extension tubeAZScooperates with a lug 31 on the endN of the tube 29 to limit the extension movemerit-of the latter. It will be understood that sufiicient frictionebetween tubes 28 and 29 may be provided to assure retention of the adjusted position of the latter even when the ball is being struck to effect release movement of the cord 11 from the means 10.

The cross-bar 9 on the outer end of tube 29 is rigidly aflixe-d to said tube, as by a brace plate 32, the width dimension of said bar being at a rearward angle to the vertical according to the angle of arm 8 to the horizontal.

The means 10 is shown as a slide member 33 that is mounted on bar 9 for adjusted position therealong and,

therefore, for adjusted lateral position relative to home plate. A clip 34 is carried by said slide, the same preferably being a spring-type clothes pin or of similar construction. Said means further includes two forwardly e-xtending pins or dowels 35, one at each end of the bar 9 and each having the upwardly angled position of the arm 8. An area a on the bar 9 is marked to the width of home plate 5 and may guide the lateral adjustment of the ball relative to the corners of home plate.

The cord 11 is preferably elastic in addition to being pliable, plastic or woven hemp, cotton or other fibers of suitable strength and elasticity being exemplary of the desired cord construction. The cord is connected by the clip 34 to the arm 8, the point of connection being chosen to locate the ball 12 at a desired level above home plate. The cord, according to whether a rightor left-hand batter is to strike the ball thus suspended, is trained over the dowel 35 on the side opposite to the batters side, the remainder of the cord to the stake 13 being coiled at 16 or otherwise disposed to be in a loose or limp condition.

The ball may be a conventional baseball, soft ball or a ball of any desired construction, or, if desired, made to be heavier than a regulation ball, preferably two to three times heavier, to provide inertia resistance when struck that will give a feeling comparable to that imparted by a fast ball from the hand of a pitcher. The manner of securing the ball to the cord may be varied, as desired.

The bat rack 14 is shown as a bar 36 having a set of dowels 37 aligned on the rear of said bar, the neck portions of bats 38 resting on the ground beneath said bar 36 being loosely confined between adjacent dowels to hold the bats in stored position.

The recess 15 may be formed in a can or container sunk in the ground, the same being preferably non-metallic and sufficiently soft so as not to bar a bat held therein, as shown.

While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to be the best modey of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and described, but to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to beI secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for holding a ball in position for a batsman to strike at, said device comprising:

(a) a ground-supported cross-bar,

(b) clip means supported by said crossbar for separably engaging a cord with one end connected to the ball to hold such ball suspended, the other end of the cord being tethered to the ground, and

(c) a forwardly extending dowel at each end of the crossbar and over one of which, depending on whether the batsman is rightor lefthanded, the cord between its tether and said clip is trained.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which a slide member mounts said clip means and is provided with portions 6. A device according to claim 3 in which the angle included between the standard and arm is approximately ninety-eight degrees.

7. Batting practice means for operative association with a home plate and batte-rs boxes marked on both sides of home plate for occupation by a batsman on one side or the other, said means comprising:

(a) a crane-like device having a 'standard adapted to be staked in the ground rearward of and aligned with home plate, and having a forwardly directed and upwardly angled arm extending from the upper end of the standard, toward and above home plate,

(b) a length of cord with a ball connected at one end, and a stake connected at the other and adapted to be driven into the ground forward of home plate to tether the ball to the ground and,

(c) means at the end of the mentioned arm to releasably connect to a point on the cord spaced from the ball to hold said ball ssupended above the ground and in position to be struck by a batsman occupying one of said boxes.

8. Batting practice means according to claim 7 in which the crane-like device is provided with means allowing for height adjustment of the standard and length adjustment of the arm. v

9. Batting practice means according to claim 8 in which the arm is at an approximate angle of eight degrees to the horizontal.

10. Batting practice means according to claim 8 in which the means at the end of the arm comprises a clip, means mounting the clip for lateral adjustment, and laterally spaced dowels over one of which the cord between the stake and the point engaged by the clip is adapted to be trained.

11. Batting practicer means according to claim 8 in which the mentioned clip has adjustable engagement with the cord end that suspends the ball to vary the level of the ball above theground, as desired.

12. A device for holding a ball in position suspended above the ground to be struck by a batsman and in adjusted relation to a member representing home plate, said device comprising:

(a) a ground-supported cross-bar,

(b) a marked area on said cross-bar of the width of said representation of home plate and adapted to be vertically aligned therewith,

(c) clip means for separably engaging a cord with one end connected to the ball to hold such ball suspended, the other end of the cord being tethered to the ground, and said clip meanshaving adjustably slidable engagement with said bar to locate a ball suspended therefrom laterally relative to said home plate, the marked area visually guiding such adjustment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 831,605 9/ 1906 Doyle 273-26 2,851,272 9/ 1958 Shatzer 273-951 FOREIGN PATENTS 333,591 8/1930 Great Britain.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. R. I. APLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR HOLDING A BALL IN POSITION FOR A BATSMAN TO STRIKE AT, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A GROUND-SUPPORTED CROSS-BAR, (B) CLIP MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID CROSSBAR FOR SEPARABLY ENGAGING A CORD WITH ONE END CONNECTED TO THE BALL TO HOLD SUCH BALL SUSPENDED, THE OTHER END OF THE CORD BEING TETHERED TO THE GROUND, AND (C) A FORWARDLY EXTENDING DOWEL AT EACH END OF THE CROSSBAR AND OVER ONE OF WHICH, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE BATSMAN IS RIGHT- OR LEFT-HANDED, THE CORD BETWEEN ITS TETHER AND SAID CLIP IS TRAINED. 